Reversible brassiere straps with double sliding adjusting buckle

ABSTRACT

A bra strap which has a double sliding adjusting buckle, allowing that the bra strap can be printed with a design on both sides; making the bra strap reversible. This allows these to be used when a desirable manner that they can be printed by the two sides when the designs are substantially identical or different and inverted relative to each other. The user can adjust the height of the bra by sliding the buckles without affecting the advertising displayed, wherein each bra strap is composed of a strap fabric, and a set of four buckles where these correspond to two buckles called “8s” two buckles called “Zs”, due to its shape and the function they perform. The “Z” buckles have an open portion allowing the strip or strap is attached to the bra for which are located at the ends and the “8” buckles are completely enclosed and allow making the adjustment in height without affecting the printed design, reason for which is located between the ends.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Colombian Application No. 13-163814, filed Jul. 10, 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following invention is directed to bra straps which have the property of a double sliding adjusting buckle, allowing that the bra straps can be printed with a design on both sides, that is, that the bra straps are reversible, which allows these to be used for a variety of fashion designs, and use in the advertising industry with commercial themes or motifs. These straps can be printed on each of the two sides, and the user can adjust the height of the bra by sliding the buckles without affecting the image displayed. Each bra strap is composed of a strap fabric, preferably elastic, and a set of four buckles where these correspond to two buckles called “8s”, two buckles called “Zs”. Due to its shape and the function they perform, the “Zs” buckles have an open portion allowing the strip or strap to be selectively attached to the bra at the ends and the strap. The “8s” buckles are completely enclosed located along the strap between the ends and allowing for an adjustment in height without affecting the printed design.

Today, strips or straps that are used in bras may not have designs on both sides, because their field of application will be greatly reduced, taking into account that because after adjustment a design on a first side will overlap and cover a design on a second side. As a result, they would be unsuitable for differing designs on a single strap or use in the advertising industry, because if at some point the user wants to change or adjust the height of the bra, this can be done but there comes a point at which the design is in the front face of the strap and passes back and vice-versa, so that the design of the strap would look incomplete because the original color of the strap.

Additionally, with the bra straps that currently exist, if one were to print both sides of said straps with distinct images, it would require the user to dismount the strap and turn it around so that the design on the back side was visible. As there is no way to move from one side to another, a fact that limits the printing of two images in aesthetic design, commercial and advertising themes and does not allow two designs to simultaneously be made, For example, in the field of sports advertising, all teams in most sports have two uniforms or two forms to appear before the public, that is, when they are visitors and another when they are local. It is desirable to be able to print at home and away designs on a single strap for use as desired.

There is a plurality of disclosures related to bra straps, for example patent WO 2007079320, that can be described as a detachable bra strap package that includes a base having an outer edge, a plurality of recesses that comprise a plurality of recess pairs defined in the outer edge of the base, and a plurality of bra straps. At least one bra strap is positioned in each of the recess pairs such that the bra strap extends at least partially around the base. In a preferred embodiment, the straps are arranged so that they overlap at the center of the base in an aesthetically pleasing spoke-type pattern.

However, this patent is limited to the form of presentation of the bra straps, but not the strap itself, i.e., bra straps that are mentioned there are currently in use and case that allows these to be seen completely, but where the strap remains the same as that for many years.

U.S. Patent Publication No. US2010144241, which consists of an improved bra that is provided with each cup having a first fabric on a first side and a varying fabric on a reverse side. Each strap incorporates a pair of decorative pivoting claps and an attachment band incorporates a decorative magnetic reversible latch.

However, the strap described in said patent incorporates a pair of pivoting claps, said claps are decorative, i.e. having no effect on the operation of bra or their straps, reason why if you want it to have a reversible strap to display two designs printed on the surfaces of the straps, it is necessary that the user removes them from the back before putting them back in place, a fact that is unwanted.

Another patent, CN 201742951, discloses a bra shoulder strap capable of being used in a changeable manner, which comprises a left shoulder strap body positioned on the left side of a bra and a right shoulder strap body positioned on the right side of the bra, wherein each of the left and the right shoulder strap bodies comprises a front shoulder strap and a rear shoulder strap, the front shoulder strap and the rear shoulder strap are interconnected through a C-shaped fastener, and adjusting rings are arranged on both the front and the rear shoulder straps of the left and the right shoulder strap bodies.

However, even though said patent discloses a bra shoulder strap capable of being used in a changeable manner, the C-shaped fastener and adjusting rings are for interconnect the shoulder straps and not for a double sliding adjusting buckle, that allows the user to adjust the height of the bra by sliding the buckles without affecting the advertising displayed.

Finally, the patent CN 201967654, discloses the invention of double hook adjustable bra straps, including bras and detachable shoulder strap; said detachable long strap includes an adjustable elastic band and located in a long elastic belt and adjustable elastic adjustable length. Two sliding contact with an adjustable elastic band is short; bra left side than on the lower outer surface of the external ear, the top of the bra cup around the inner surface with at least a pair of symmetric inner ear, said elastically adjust length with both ends of the external ear hook located at the two short with elastic adjustable hook end portions located in the inner ear symmetrical pair; utility model based on the principles of mechanics, the shoulder strap for each cup bra force decomposition into two different point of action in order to achieve stable results.

Notwithstanding the above, although the bra and straps described in this patent make up a complex structure that has a number of advantages over existing bras, none contain a double sliding adjustment buckle of the strap, which takes to that the straps cannot be reversible and easy adjustment, i.e., not requiring the user to remove the strap and display advertising or design printed on the surfaces of said straps.

Accordingly, there is a need to design and implement straps that are used in bras, which are useful for advertising showing multiple designs or for display of a mark, logo or any design, wherein the straps have a series of buckles or snaps that allow adjusting only the length of the strap, and the design can be seen in the front or the back of the strap, without requiring the user to take it away to flip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which;

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b are each a front plan view of the straps in accordance with the invention which shows the superior surface and the inferior surface respectively;

FIG. 2A is a front plan view of a n first respective “8” buckle for bra in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2B is a front plan view of a second respective “8” buckle for bra in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 3A is a front plan view of a first respective “Z” buckle for bra in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3B is a front plan view of a second respective “Z” buckle for bra in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a front exploded perspective view of the bra straps of the invention together with a bra in which they are to be installed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-3B which show the elements of a system for a reversible strap for a bra constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. A reversible strap 1 for a bra 4 constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of said invention includes the following components or parts:

-   A first surface 11 of the strap 1 which corresponds to an upper     surface of strap 1; -   A second surface 12 of strap 1 corresponds to an opposed inferior     surface to first surface 11; -   Two closed buckles 2 a, 2 b; and -   Two open buckles 3 a, 3 b;

In this embodiment, a single strap 1 of the invention corresponds to the element that strap 1 is affixed and disposed at an upper part of bra 4 with the purpose that said bra 4 can be worn by the user, where the strap 1 is placed on the shoulders and about the neck of said user. In this way, the surfaces 11,12 of the strap 1 are opposite between them and each one can be printed separately with the wanted designed as said designs or printed patterns can be different.

Strap 1 can be adjusted with buckles, two closed buckles 2 a, 2 b called “8s”, two open buckles 3 a, 3 b called “Zs”, due to its shape and the function they perform; where, will be discussed below, one of the ends of said buckles 3 a, 3 b (superior or inferior) is open with the purpose of allowing buckles 3 a, 3 b to be inserted on the bra 4 destined to be used with straps as discussed in detail below.

Buckle 2 a by way of example has a top 19 a, a bottom 21 a and are joined together by opposed sides, 23 a, 25 a, respectively, forming an open space within buckle 2 a. Rod 27 a extends between sides 23 a, 25 a, to form the “8” shape giving the buckle 2 a its name and forming separated openings 29 a and 31 a sized to slidably receive strap therethrough.

Buckle 3 a has a similar shape to buckle 2 a, the primary difference being that one side of buckle 3 a has an opening therein to form the “Z” shape. Accordingly, buckle 3 a has opposed top and bottom bars 33 a, 35 a, a first side bar 37 a, a center bar 39 a extending across buckle 3 a from first side 37 a to a second side 41 a forming a first bounded space 43 a, a partial side 45 a extends from side or top 35 a, but extends just short of rod 39 a to provide a gap 49 a which serves as an opening to a second opening 47 a. The width of gap 49 a between rod 39 a and side 45 a is sufficient to allow strap 1 to pass therethrough, but not easily to prevent inadvertent falling out from space 47 a as will be discussed.

Strap 1 is first inserted through opening 43 a and may be looped against itself as seen in FIGS. 1 a, 1 b or affixed to buckle 2 a. Strap 1 is then threaded through openings 27 a, 31 a of buckle 2 a. Strap 1 is then inserted through openings 29 b, 31 b of buckle 2 b and opening 43 b of buckle 3 b. It should be noted that in a preferred embodiment, the end of strap 1 in opening 43 a may be fixed, in other words, fixedly sealed against itself by thread, glue or the like. However, as will be discussed below, the portion of strap 1 through opening 43 b is adjustable to continue sliding through opening 43 b to adjust the length of strap 1 relative to the wearer.

In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, when an open buckle 3 a is in its end position, i.e., at the tip of strap 1, a tip of about 1 cm of strap 1 may be left, to allow ultrasonic sealing of strap 1 against itself or to buckle 3 a, and prevent buckles 2 a or 3 a from going where the seal should be on the dot on the inside. Alternatively, to provide an adjustment of strap 1, strap 1 may be joined at one or both ends to any one of bars 19 a, 25 a or 21 b, of buckles 2 a, 2 b after having been inserted through buckles 3 a, 3 b. This allows adjustment of strap 1 by movement of buckle 2 b.

Where each end of strap 1 is affixed to a respective 8 buckle 2 a, it is understood that strap 1 extends through buckles 3 a, 3 b in opposed orientations. In other words, one end extends through a buckle to extend along surface 11, while the other end extends through a second buckle to lie along surface 12.

Finally, because the strap 1 is reversible or double sided, one must repeat the previous steps but inserting the buckles 2 or 3 on the opposite side and repeating the last steps with the sealing of the strap and to obtain the strap showed at FIG. 1.

The strap 1, as they are reversible, they have two sides to put on the bra 4, that corresponds to the superior and inferior surfaces 11, 12, therefore, there are two positions for positioning the opened buckles 3 a, 3 b. So, to switch the pattern from one side of the strap 1 to another, a user must reverse position the opened buckles 3 a, 3 b at the front part of the bra 4 towards the inside and at the back part towards outside.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4 in which a bra 4 having cups 50, 52 and a strap 54 attached thereto is provided. Bra 4 has at least a first loop 60 affixed to the top of cup 50 and a second loop 62 affixed to the top of cup 52. Loop 60 receives rod 35 a by sliding loop 60 through gap 49 a. Similarly, loop 62 receives rod 35 b of “Z” clasp 35 b by being slid through gap 49 b. In this way, the single strap now is secured to the bra and may fit over the neck of the user.

To reverse the strap 1 in order to show the pattern on the opposed surface 12 of strap 1, each clasp is easily removed. Clasp 3 a is inserted into loop 62, while clasp 3 b is inserted and secured by loop 60. In this way, the opposed surface 12 is now exposed.

FIG. 4 also shows an alternative embodiment to the invention in which single strap 1 is replaced by two straps 100 a and 100 b, and additional loops 56, 58 are affixed to strap 54 of bra 4 to receive a third and fourth “Z” clasp 103 a, 103 b accordingly.

Again, a description will be given in terms of strap 100 a and will be described as the structure of strap 100 b is identical.

The structure of strap 100 a is identical to the structure of strap 100 b, which is identical to the structure of strap 1 as shown in FIG. 1. The difference being that in order to retain bra 4, two straps are utilized, rather than a single strap. Again, the materials of strap 100 b is affixed to a first “Z” clasp 103 a. Strap 111 is inserted through a first “8” clasp 102 a and a second clasp 102 b. The leading end of strap 100 b is then inserted through the closed gap 43 b of “Z” clasp 103 b to be looped around and inserted through clasp 102 b.

In this model, “Z” clasp 103 a is retained in loop 62 as discussed above, and the second “Z” clasp 103 b is retained in loop 58. Similarly, strap 100 a is retained by loop 60 receiving “Z” clasp 103 b and loop 56 receiving “Z” clasp 103 a.

Again, in a preferred embodiment each surface 111, 112 will have a different pattern to provide variety to the wearer. 

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:
 1. A strap for a bra comprising: a first surface of the strap corresponding to a superior surface of the strap; a second surface of the strap that corresponds to an inferior surface of the strap and is located opposite to the first surface; a first closed buckle; a second closed buckle; the first closed buckle and second closed buckle, each having an opening therein for allowing the strap to slidable pass therethrough; a first open buckle; and a second open buckle, wherein the first and second open buckle each receive the strap, and the first open buckle and second open buckle each having a gap formed therein for receiving a portion of the bra for securing the strap to the bra.
 2. The strap of claim 1, wherein at least a first end of the strap passes through at least one of the first open buckle or second open buckle and is affixed to at least one of the first closed buckle and second buckle.
 3. The strap of claim 1, having a first design printed on the superior surface of the strap, and a second image printed on the inferior surface of the strap, the first image being different from the second image.
 4. The strap of claim 1, wherein the first image is printed on the superior surface of the strap and a second image is printed on the inferior surface of the strap, the first image being substantially identical to the second image. 